New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-24

4 TREATISE on CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
Their History Powers and Modes Of Proceeding. BY
JoHN ALEXANDER JAMESON. LII d. evo, PIP. xxx,
FOL & Co

n
Their History. Powers and Modes Of Proceeding: by
JoHN ALExAXpER JAMESON, LII d. svo PIP xxx,
6s4 Chicago Callaghan Co.
The Issue of this edition Of Judge JaInesons
important work Is timely This is true from
fmtberreaching reasons than the completion
Of the fst hundred years OF the life VI the
Federal Constitution, recently celebrated at Philadei
pha There have been periods In the last hundred
years when the minds OF libery-loving people were
more thoroughly and openly aroused In the discussion Of
Quesons affecting the character and form Of govern
mental authority; but there has been no period, at
all events In America when the interest In the subject
was general or when the inquiries Of Intelligent
minds directed more earnestly toward the solution
OF the problems that centre around the relations OF The
body Of the people to the governing powers In municipal
State National affairs. Is not only the recognized
leaders Of thought in literature and politics whose Writ
inss AID addresses are buruened WIN IN
terrogations the philosophy OF Ma
tional life. But people of all CONDITIONS
oven the humblest, thinking and talking aoon'
e.sub1ects The earnestness and zeal with which
those in the hunbest walks of life have recently en-
tered into the open discussion of novel pocai p'i
cpes is only one Illustration olt of many OF the ten
dency of the times.
The truth Is that despite the cynicism OF those VINO
sheer at the Of voters caring little ana Knowing
lees about the science Of government the evidences OF
the growfng interest and knowledge on the part Vi
citizens Of all classes becoming every year more
manifest 1t not so easy TO buy votes In this CITY
a. II was few years ago. and If all signs d. not fall
Il vii become and more difficult as time goes on
This is due not much TO more stringent laws as IL
Is to the that even tho voter OF easiest pohoai
vrue and once approachabc Is coming TO understand
that the ballot cast ntehgently can be made to be OF
more real and material value himself individually
than any pary sum he might obtain by the sale of IT,
TIL. Is the theory upon when 'hc "au'i'
of the Republican party have ac'eu nn
dsscn. mating among wage earhels thout"'
the country information upon the topic OF lio'e0"o
a. a means of maintaining high rates OF pay 1or all
workers. This and other causes have stimulated III
oujry and increased discussion The history Oh our
country the origin and development OF our Governments
the best means preserve and strengthen It's "oi'e'
Institutions are matters becoming daily more lanlid
10 the pcopl, of the United States Every means Oh
,nl,cbtenmont ur assistance In the study OF them
is t be welcomed Ii is In that view as We'll as an au
On advanced hi torca and political research that Judge
1an,cson's work upon Constitutional Conventions Is to
be received The people of this state less thah year
aco decided that convention should DC helu W cNi>o
the NcwYork Constitution. Except Tor Inc 'e'o vi
deliberately partisan Governor the people would no"
be preparing TO select its members The vote VI last
year was significant of the vital interest felt IN Inc
matter by the people and of the importance OF the SUD
feet. -,
In IFS proper fed this work stands almost alone
and cert ainly uneQualled The foremost OF American"
works on Constut Jnal lawthat of Judge story-coh-
r,dcrsl Constitution The scope Of Jud.e Jaincsohs
work Is much wider lie seeks 10 anayze the nature
of political constitutions, written ana unwi"eh 10
discover whence they derive their authority; TO snow
the character of their functions and TO denhe tho"
limits The advantages Of Written over unwrltten con
stutons need scarcely be argued to Americans at 'hs
stage in their progress. only two STATES have 'eh'eu
uuon a continuance of the English syscn-COnnectlcut
and Rhode Island-and the former found II hecessa'!
M accept written constitution In lole, ana the Ia''er
I'm 1872 The truth of Jenersons words II hloio
rcadv appreciated to-day than when they we've written
"Thouch written constitutions may be NOa'cu III
moments Of passion or dclusion yet they iuihh'h d
,,x 10 which those who arc watcful may again raiy
and recall the people they fix, 100 Tor inc pe"pic 'h0
p,l,oiplcs Of their political creed
Vnder our Government the people are supreme Inc
,,u,nn T. their creation 1t t. and always viii be
sub icct TO their viii and control The Federal 'oi-
stitution il but the declared Will of the people as 10
the manner in which they shall be united into nation
They can, If they choose. not only modify the cohs'
tution but abolish il. We the people OF The Chl'eu
States the great instrument begins, do ordaln ana
establish tbl, constitution for the United STATES Oh
America And The same power that odalHs can u''o'
The Constitution of the United states Is iml''uS
rar of the Constitution of each state and on the Ohcr
hand the constitutions of all the states form part
AZ tbe Federal Constitution. The people might, IN the
exercise of their sovereign power, nave uli''u al
,be.. constitution, IAo one and they might still do
NAV be delegated or Disseminated into the groups
known a, statce.r sim the fact that 1t Is supreme
|. the fundamental truth. The Nation a. UNI J.
the only sovereign. This Is the truth that uhuci"e'
all the discussions and conclusions of Judge jameson
II leads TO the important distinction that While the
so,cral AGENCIES constituting government, Including
constitution conventions. are permitted to exercise
ye,,ic, noU,sr they are not possessed Of original
Sovereignty "while they welding powers that
lonuc 10 the sovereign society, that society Il COZ"
ccyed of not only a. existing, but as cothco con
tinually with all the rights of source OF power an"
If final arbitcr in all questions rlaing TO It's cAtc
or exercise" A convention then becomes In realty
siuplv a part of the apparatus by which sovereign
soeitv docs its work as political organism IL l.
the sovereign a. organized for the purpose OF ichc"
CAS-, ar reuairlng the governmental machinery. The
Legislature f. the same sovereign for the purpose oi
making laws When it is organized for the purpose
of applyng or carrying into effect the law, u Is inc
Judiciary or the executive. No one OF these successive
forms into which TIE sovereign resolves i'7cii 0o''
stitutcs the Government, but together they c"h'u
,u,c the government: as the animal is constituted Of
II. separate organs In tins way il Is arg"ed 'ha d
member Of a constitutional convention becomes an
"oniccr' Of the State
nh, authors elucidat'on Of the mora practical
nba-e. Of III, subjecthc organization and modes OF
rroccdure Of conventions; their powers the SUP
inf sion Of constitutions the people and the rul :
governing tie aucnlmcnt OF con-ttulons-is followed
ont in the most interesting and pcr-pcuous manm T.
The work A. whole deserves and will repay the most
careful study on the part Of all who seeking the
clcaicst and fullest knowledge of the nature Of our
political in titutions and tho modes Of their de
vciopmcnt.